Few people in Formula 1 have a true understanding of Eddie Irvine, the laid-back Northern Irishman who shot to prominence on his F1 debut at the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix when he cheekily unlapped himself from race-leader Ayrton Senna, and earned himself a smack in the mouth from the Brazilian for his troubles.

Formula 1 has dieted on a succession of intense, dedicated racing drivers who are all cut from the same strict public relations mould. Today’s grid sees few, if any, true personalities, and it would be fair to say that most would donate body parts if it meant getting into a better car.

Yet you have Irvine, who seemingly never cared whether he succeeded or not. This is the profile of this most complex of characters…

Biographer Adam Cooper is a close friend and former room-mate of Irvine’s during his days in the Japanese racing scene in the early 1990s, and this is one of the most informative profiles you will ever read of this seemingly tearaway driver.

Charting his career from his first formative outings in Formula Ford in 1983 through to his appointment as Ferrari’s number-two driver to Michael Schumacher, the book profiles the highs and lows of Eddie’s very interesting self-made career in motorsport.

Eddie is far from a saintly character, and at times this feels like a bit of a ‘hero’-gram from Cooper, but overall the book is well-written and a straightforward read cover-to-cover.

Using our unique ‘Chequered Flags’ rating system, we award Eddie Irvine: The Luck of the Irish…

OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE.

Eddie Irvine: The Luck of the Irish is available at specialist bookstores and Amazon.